Comments Relevant to
Potential Flights on
Dual Ship Cross-Country
Mentoring Program
Peter Kelly
May 2, 2004
This page consists of comments that are relevant to future mentoring flights. If you have some ideas, opinions or comments please share them with other future participants by sending them to me via e-mail at gliding@sonic.net. If it is OK to quote you, giving attribution, with your name, please let me know, otherwise, I will not post any sources or names.
Need to start the day early.
Better to plan on getting to the gliderport earlier than normal - the ships need to be assembled, the weather checked and pilot meeting underway at least an hour (90 minutes) before the planned takeoff time. Agree on the planned takeoff time the day before the flight.
Mentor loses track of the student - doesn't know his position.
This underscores the importance of the preflight brief on GPS equipment, especially the same units of measure for distance - (normally - statute miles). Have a specific immediate goal turnpoint at all times. You are always enroute to a specific point - be able to give mileage to that point at any time. Review communications pages for minimizing radio congestion when trying to resolve this problem. Mentor should state: "xx say position and altitude", student might respond, for example "xx is 22 miles from Yolo, 4,000 ft, east side of Hwy 5". If mentor needs more info, he will ask.
Student will get frustrated, and mentor will need to temporarily make decisions on selecting the next TP and/or the route of flight.
Student should not mask his frustration. If student wants help, then speak up. Mentor should not aggravate student by talking to him all the time. If student wants mentor to select next TP or route of flight, then mentor should do it.
Mentor needs to take the lead if he thinks it is necessary or if he is asked to take the lead by the student.
The caution to keep in mind if the mentor is in the lead is that the student may inadvertently get further away from, or below a comfortable glide for a recover landing field. If student becomes uncomfortable with position or altitude, the student needs to select his own route.
Full demo of GPS
Before launch, do a full demo of selecting a TP and reading distances. Student should show polar and final glide settings, including Height Above Goal, Wing Bugs Factor and McCready setting. Display wind info. After the demo, leave the equipment running so there are no changes before you get into the air.
Send feedback, comments, suggestions, encouragement, critiques, criticism, accolades, or just your humble opinion to:
gliding@sonic.net
With sufficient effort, we can get every soaring pilot qualified to fly cross-country in a safe and sane manner. It requires lots of effort on the part of the student, and some sacrifice and commitment on the part of the mentor.